New Taxi Operator Licences - Allocation Scheme
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 December 2025
Back to Licensing Committee — 15 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality Committee or Board: Licensing Committee Date of Meeting: 15 December 2025 Report Title: New taxi Operator Licences- Allocation Scheme Report Number: 25/357 Report Author: Sarah Rodger, Legal Manager Organisational Lead: Lisa Simpson, Strategic Lead – Legal and Governance 1. Purpose 1.1 This report seeks the Committee’s approval for a new scheme to allocate 24 additional Taxi Operator Licences in Perth, following the findings of the recent Unmet Demand Survey and subsequent public consultation. The report also proposes a policy change to ensure that any new taxi plates issued under this scheme are returned to the Council for reallocation if no longer wanted or used. The intention is to broaden access to Taxi Operator Licences and enhance accessibility for disabled passengers. 1.1 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation(s) 3. Background/Context 4. Main Issues 5. Proposals 6. Conclusion 7. Impact Value Assessment 8. Appendices 2. Recommendation(s) It is recommended that the Committee: 2.1 Approves the allocation scheme for the 24 additional taxi operator licences as set out in this report at Appendix 1. 2.2 Approves the policy on non-transferability of new taxi plates, requiring surrender and reallocation via a waiting list as set out in Appendix 2.
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2.3 Delegates authority to the Head of Legal & Governance Services to develop the necessary administrative procedures to implement the scheme and maintain the waiting list. 2.4 Agrees that the date of implementation for the Scheme and the Policy on Non- transferability shall be the date upon which the opportunity to apply for one of the additional 24 licences is first advertised. 3. Background/Context 3.1 The Council is responsible for regulating taxi and private hire car operators and drivers within Perth and Kinross, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The Act permits the Council to limit the number of taxi licences only where it is satisfied that there is no significant unmet demand for taxi services. 3.2 The LVSA Perth Taxi Unmet Demand Survey (Dec 2024), commissioned by the Council, concluded that there was indeed significant unmet demand for taxis in Perth, particularly at peak times and for wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). 3.3 Following the survey, a public consultation was conducted to gather stakeholder views on the options for addressing unmet demand and the types of vehicles to be prioritised. Whilst the majority expressed no preference regarding vehicle type, a third of respondents did express a preference for WAV and/or electric vehicles. 3.4 On 6 October 2025, the Licensing Committee considered recommendations to address the identified unmet demand (Report 25/260 refers) agreed to issue 24 additional taxi operator licences and officers were asked to develop criteria for allocation. The Committee also expressed a desire to ensure that these new licences are allocated in a way that improves the availability and resilience of taxi services by encouraging new entrants to the trade 4. Main Issues 4.1 The public consultation highlighted a tension between the views of the main operators within the trade and the independent evidence obtained through the survey. In striking a balance, Committee on 6 October 2025 agreed to an increase of 24 additional taxi operator licences. 4.2 It is important that the Allocation Scheme for the additional 24 licences directly addresses the nature and impact of the unmet demand evidenced within the area, but it also presents an opportunity to deliver greater socio-economic value. 4.3 The proposed Allocation Scheme therefore has been developed to ensure compliance with the statutory framework and aligned to the Council’s strategic priorities in relation to tackling inequality and growing the local economy.
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5. Proposals 5.1 In light of the above, it is proposed that the 24 additional taxi operator licences be allocated according to the following principles: • Improving accessibility for disabled passengers • Growing the local taxi trade • Fairness and transparency 5.2 Proposed Allocation Scheme 5.2.1 The proposed scheme (which is set out in full in Appendix 1) is designed to: • Improve accessibility for disabled passengers by providing that all new licences issued under this scheme will be subject to a condition that the licensed vehicle must be a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV). This requirement responds directly to the findings of the Unmet Demand Survey and the public consultation, both of which highlighted the need for improved accessibility for disabled passengers. • Grow the local taxi trade by giving priority to applicants who do not currently hold a taxi operator licence in Perth City, nor have a beneficial interest in any such licence. This approach is designed to improve the resilience and availability of taxis to the public by creating opportunities for a more diverse taxi trade. • Ensure fairness and transparency by inviting applications by a deadline which will be set as part of implementation of the scheme. All complete applications received by this deadline will be processed in strict date and time order and according to the priority criteria set out in Appendix 1. Each applicant may be granted only one licence in the first instance. If, after processing all eligible new entrants, licences remain unallocated, the scheme will allow for allocation to existing single-plate operators, and then to other eligible applicants, always on a one-licence- per-applicant basis per round. 5.2.2 To further support the objective of widening access, it is proposed that for all new taxi operator licences issued under this scheme will not be possible for a licence holder to, in effect, transfer the interest in their licence through either notifying the Council of a material change of circumstance to the licence or through application for variation. This means that, should a licence holder no longer wish to operate the licence, the plate must be surrendered to the Council. The Council will then reallocate the licence to the next eligible applicant on the waiting list. 5.2.3 This policy is consistent with the Council’s powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, which allows the licensing authority to regulate the issuing of licences and to attach such conditions as it considers appropriate. Limited exceptions may be made in exceptional cases such as death or incapacity.
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5.2.4 Existing licences granted prior to the implementation of this policy will not be affected and current procedures will continue to apply to those licences. 5.2.5 The proposed Policy Statement on Non-Transferability of New Taxi Plates is set out in full at Appendix 2. 6. Conclusion 6.1 The evidence from the Unmet Demand Survey and public consultation demonstrates a clear need for additional taxi capacity in Perth, particularly for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The proposed allocation scheme and accompanying policy on non-transferability represent a fair, transparent, and forward-looking approach to meeting this need. 6.2 By prioritising new entrants, the Council will open the trade to a wider range of operators, fostering diversity and resilience in the local market. 6.3 The mandatory requirement for wheelchair-accessible vehicles ensures that disabled passengers—who have historically faced barriers to reliable transport—will benefit directly from this expansion. 6.4 The non-transferability policy will safeguard these objectives over time, ensuring that licences remain available for use, in the public interest. Together, these measures strike an appropriate balance between legal compliance, public interest, and strategic priorities. 6.5 Approval of the recommendations will enable the Council to deliver a taxi service that is fair, inclusive, and fit for the future; adding greater socio- economic value to the communities that we serve. 7. Assessments 7.1 See Appendix 3 – Impact and Value Assessment 7.2 See Appendix 4 – Equality and Impact Fairness Assessment 8. Appendices 8.1 Appendix 1 – Allocation Scheme for Additional Taxi Operator Licences 8.2 Appendix 2 – Policy – Non-Transferability of New Taxi Operator Licences 8.3 Appendix 3 – Impact and Value Assessment 8.4 Appendix 4 – Equality and Impact Fairness Assessment